UConn Defensive Coordinator Don Brown Leaving For BC

Defensive coordinator Don Brown is leaving UConn to do the same job at Boston College.

Sources confirm Brown isn't officially gone yet but he will be.

It's a huge blow for the Huskies.

Brown, a Spencer, Mass., native, is set to join former Cheshire High coach and new BC coach Steve Addazio, who just left Temple to return to New England.

The UConn defense in two years under Brown went from 51st in the nation in 2011 to No. 10 in 2012. The Huskies were seventh in rushing defense and 13th in tackles for a loss.

The architect of a pressure, hair-on-fire-type defense is going to join Boston College, and the Eagles need him. Their defense was ranked 101 out of 120 Division I-A schools in the nation this past season.

Losing Brown is big for UConn. The players loved the way he encouraged and motivated them. They often spoke of how Brown trusted them and how comfortable he made them feel. From an off-the-field standpoint, they don't come much better than Brown.

UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni, who hired Brown away from Maryland in January 2011, and Brown were both unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Pasqualoni isn't expected to fill Brown's position right away. Recruiting, sources close to the program said Wednesday, will continue to take precedence through national letter of intent signing day, Feb. 6.

That doesn't mean Pasqualoni won't be eyeing possibilities. Certainly former defensive coordinator and current defensive line and associate head coach Hank Hughes could be a safe option. He's a coach the players love and respect. One report suggested Pasqualoni could give Bill McGovern, who is being replaced by Brown at BC, a look. That might be a stretch, since BC had a poor showing this season.

Coaches will call and that started Wednesday with calls from Kentucky defensive coordinator Rick Minter and a few others, sources said. Pasqualoni probably has a list of coaches he might reach out to.

Either way, Pasqualoni probably didn't begin the season thinking he would be looking for a new defensive coordinator.

Some will speculate that Brown left because he was tired of the defense's having to constantly bail out the offense. Some might say it was because Boston College is in the ACC and others might say it was because UConn's defense won't be as good as it was this past season.

Why Brown is leaving might never be known, but none of those speculations would be enough to send Brown packing. In fact, they might endear him to UConn even more because he lives for a challenge. Brown often spoke about how he looked forward to next season and working with some talented cornerbacks, the position he also coached.

Whatever the reason it's a blow to UConn and a likely boost for BC.

Brown was offered the head coach job at Yale last season —where he had previously worked as defensive coordinator (1987-92) — but he turned it down.

Going to Boston College keeps Brown in the area he loves, New England.

Brown has been a head coach at three New England schools — Massachusetts (2004-08), Northeastern (2000-03) and Plymouth State (1993-95). He led UMass to the 2006 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision finals and has a career record of 95-45 as a head coach. UMass was first nationally in scoring defense in 2005.